Catastrophe anonymisation is the removal of direct identifiers from an event dataset. UK GDPR Recital 26 says truly anonymous data falls outside the rules, and the ICO Anonymisation Code applies a motivated-intruder test. anonym.plus marks each identifier on your device, so the loss figures stay analysable while the people behind them are shielded.
When this applies
An event dataset ties each loss to a named policyholder and a location. You strip those identifiers before the data feeds a CAT model.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Open the dataset in anonym.plus on your device.
- The tool flags names, IDs, and contacts per row.
- Local OCR reads any scanned source sheet.
- Turn the alias map OFF for true anonymity.
- Swap or black out the confirmed identifiers.
- Save the clean table locally.
What you need to provide
- The event dataset (CSV exported to PDF, DOCX, TXT).
- An operator (Redact suits a modelling table).
- The alias map turned OFF so no link survives.
PII & financial identifiers detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | policyholder name → [SUBJECT] |
| Identifiers | UK_NINO | national insurance no → [NINO] |
| Financial | MONEY | loss £38,500 → [AMOUNT] |
| Location | LOCATION | loss postcode → [REGION] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | event date 2025 → [DATE] |
| Contact | EMAIL_ADDRESS | holder@example.co.uk → [EMAIL] |
Compliance achieved
- Aims at the anonymity standard in UK GDPR Recital 26.
- Turning the alias map off removes any re-link route.
- Offline work keeps the source figures off any server.
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Limitations & cautions
Recital 26 treats data as anonymous only if no one can re-identify a person. A precise postcode plus a large loss can still single someone out. Coarsen such fields before you publish.
Frequently asked questions
When is an event dataset truly anonymous?
Recital 26 sets the bar at no reasonable means of re-identification. Remove direct identifiers, then coarsen rare location and loss combinations.
Why coarsen the postcode?
A precise location can re-identify a household after a major event. Reduce it to a wider region to meet the Recital 26 standard.
Is the dataset uploaded?
No. The app runs locally, so the data never leaves your device.